WhileBob’s Burgersis mainly set at theBelcher family restaurant, the second most common setting of the show is a K-8 school. During the day, Bob and his wife Linda run the restaurant, while their three children attend a local school called Wagstaff. The red brick school looks like a prestigious institution, but seems to be run by the self-credentialed guidance counselor, Mr. Frond. Each Belcher child has an intriguing relationship with the counselor, but it’s Tina who has the best relationship with him.
As the eldest Belcher child, Tina is in eighth grade, on the cusp of being a full-fledged teenager. She is the quintessential 13-year-old; she loves horses, zombies, and writing. Her dedication to her interests is common for younger teens, but it’s her conflicts at school that give the series motion. If it weren’t for Tina being in middle school and the common struggles of nearing adulthood, the series would need a different center of chaos.
Strong, Smart, Sensual Young Woman
Adolescence is depicted on TV as an absolute hellscape, with small glimpses of sunshine, regardless of the clique.Bob’s Burgersis one of the few shows that depict middle school in a balanced manner. Tina (Dan Mintz) has the experience of the average middle school student. She is picked on, but not to the point that it’s distressing. For Tina, her self-esteem and family are what keep her thriving. As much as Tina wants to be accepted by her peers, she trusts that rules keep people safe. Yet she also knows that to be true to herself, following conventional rules can become a roadblock.
Tina only breaks the rules when she is being true to herself and her friends and family. Sometimes, saying yes to her friends and family can put her in a sticky situation. When Louise’s ears were stolen, and she cashed in a favor with a local biker gang, Tina wanted to avoid the situation altogether, but she stood by her sister because it was right. Another time Tina broke the rules was when she sacrificed her status as a hall monitor, so Zeke could surprise his grandma before surgery. Tina’s belief in what is right and kind is what makes her a strong, smart, and sensual woman.
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Erotic Friend Fiction
According toPsychology Today, a majority of adults daydream at least once per day. Daydreams are connected to life satisfaction and memory, but can also be a source of creativity. While Tina may live by the rules that she may bend, she’s an imaginative person. Between Tina and her siblings, Tina daydreams the most. When she heard of Quippiquisset Island’s nickname, Quickie Kiss It, she had an entire fantasy about her ability to fly and kiss a dozen or so boys.
Her fantasies also come out in her erotic friend fiction. In these written stories, Tina imagines or reimagines scenarios from school with her classmates. The stories are erotic because they usually involve a lot of consensual butt touching and kissing, two things that preoccupy Tina’s mind. Another element of erotic friend fiction is the inclusion of zombies. Tina’s erotic friend fiction is her creative outlet, just as her daydreams get her through new scenarios.
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Bullies and Crushes
Even though Tina isn’t the main target of the school bullies, the popular kids often pick on her. Tammy (played by Jenny Slate) is one of the most popular girls at school. She is best friends with Jocelyn (John Roberts), who is concerned with being liked rather than being smart. They often hang out with Zeke (Bobby Tisdale), the school troublemaker, and Jimmy Jr, Tina’s on-again-off-again boyfriend. Much of Tina’s qualms at school are due to Tammy saying something harmless, like “You’re so quirky,” which Jocelyn joins in on.
The harassment is one of the many topics in Tina’s erotic fan fiction with her being victorious over Tammy and Jocelyn. While Jimmy Jr and Tina are off-and-on dating, the entire status is up to how Jimmy Junior feels about Tina. Typically, if she is interested in another boy, that’s when Jimmy Jr. steps in to remind her that she likes him. But Zeke has stated several times throughout the show that he’s going to marry her. While Tina and Zeke haven’t been on a formal date, he is the only one in the quartet who doesn’t pick on Tina or treat her with disrespect.
Zombies, Horses, and Butts
Tina doesn’t just write erotic friend fiction to feel empowered, but her main interests always find a way into her friend fiction or daily conversation. In no particular order, her three main interests are zombies, horses, and butts. AsLive Scienceexplains, people’s fascination for zombies can give us hope, relieve stress, and give us a little fear. Though Tina’s interest in zombies is more romantic. In fact, one of her school essays is about having seventeen zombie boyfriends.
Her next interest is in horses. She has an imaginary horse named Jericho who she rides at the final presentation of her horse camp. Among her life-like plastic horse collection, she also has toys from a superhero horse TV show calledThe Equestranauts.
Tina’s final interest is butts. In severalBob’s Burgersepisodes, Tina refers to her photographic butt memory or the butt bank. This vault of behinds saves her dad and Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline) is trapped under the wharf. These three interests that preoccupy and distract Tina make her a chaotically good character.
